Just because something is natural does not mean
it is good for you or harmless. Toadstools are natural, but those mushrooms are poisonous. Uterine Fibroid Tumors
( Myomas ) may also be provoked by some plants, foods and herbs. The therapeutic effect of Natural Progesterone
may also be blocked by some herbs. Beware
of some herbs that may encourage Uterine Fibroid Tumors ( Myomas ).

by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.

Plants produce chemicals that mimic
estrogen and/or block estrogen, and/or block progesterone. The human body has receptors to both estrogen and progesterone.
These receptors will respond not only to the body's hormones, but also plant hormones. In general, phytoestrogens
are thought to wash out of the body within several days in contrast to months or decades that the synthetic chemical
xenoestrogens take to be excreted. Whole grains, fruits, seeds, beans and herbs all are know to have estrogen and/or
progesterone activity. The most famous is soy. In general, any food that has been eaten by a culture or people
group for centuries is probably all right to eat if the people group in question is relatively free from these
estrogen related diseases. When referring to phytoestrogens, it is generally thought that a "weak" estrogen
may actually be protective against cancer causing xenoestrogens. The best example is Lilian Thompson PhD's work
that showed that oral ground flax seed reduced breast cancer size between the time of diagnosis and surgery. The
phytoestrogen contained in the flax seed binds to the estrogen receptor, but does not stimulate it. The flax seed
phytoestrogen competes with other estrogens that would otherwise stimulate the estrogen receptor. The flax seed
phytoestrogen acts as a blocker. In one patient taking 1 oz of ground flax seed daily I have seen heavy constant bleeding.
This particular patient became anemic and a candidate for hysterectomy. Abnormal heavy bleeding stopped
after groud flax seed was stopped.

In contrast, a strong phytoestrogen may actually make the disease worse. Again
the list that follows is incomplete because of the lack of research money and interest:

In the 1940's, the sheep farmers of Perth in
western Australia began to experience an epidemic of
still births despite three seasons of exceptionally good weather. The handsome merino sheep looked healthy. However,
the ewe's failed to go into labor; the lambs died in still birth and often the mothers as well. In a matter of
5 years, the ewes failed to conceive at all even after repeated breeding with fertile rams.

Federal and agricultural specialists found
the problem. Clover. Fifteen years earlier, ranchers had imported a clover from the Mediterranean region in Europe.
The first scientific paper on this phenomenon appeared in the Australian Veterinary Journal in 1946 and proclaimed
this as "clover disease". Three years later three chemicals were identified as suspects. Finally, formononetin
only one of the chemicals was determined to be the culprit. Formononetin mimics estrogen.

Sunflower Seeds

Coumestrol found in sunflower seeds when fed
to the mother rat caused permanent reproductive problems in the rat pups: female pups when grown did not ovulate,
and the male pups had altered mounting behavior and fewer ejaculations. Neonatal rats and immature rats exposed
to coumestrol had premature estrous cycles. Flax seed oil and Soy oil are known NOT have the active phytoestrogens.
Sunflower oil MAY or MAY NOT have active hormone components in it.

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot)

During the fourth century B.C., Hippocrates
noted that Queen Anne's Lace prevented pregnancies.

Pomegranate

The Greeks used this plant as a contraceptive.
Modern research confirms strong estrogen activity.

Fennel

Used in the ancient world to prevent pregnancy
and precipitate abortions.

Licorice, Red Clover, Yucca, Hops (Beer)
and Motherwort

Zava, Ph.D. showed that these herbs stimulated estrogen receptor positive breast
cancer cells to grow. Red Clover and Yucca were found to be equal in potency to estradiol at the same concentrations.
Women who harvest hops for beer begin menstruating 2 days later anecdotally. Zava has confirmed that beer has a
significant amount of phytoestrogens that have moderate estrogen activity from hops used in the flavoring of beer.

There are separate estrogen and progesterone
receptors. Zava, Ph.D. was able to show that the above herbs are able to bind to the progesterone receptor. These
herbs would compete against any natural progesterone taken and should also be avoided. Interestingly enough all
the progesterone binding herbs were antagonists or neutral meaning they competed against progesterone and worked
against it or blocked progesterone. None of them were progesterone stimulators. Bloodroot, mandrake, pennyroyal,
yucca, and mistletoe all have very strong progesterone binding activity and are used as abortifacents (create an
abortion), and to bring on menses. Bloodroot was used in England to treat breast cancer 100 years ago, and was
used by Native Americans to treat surface tumors ( myomas ). Herbalists today use it to treat breast cancers, nasal
polyps, and cervical dysplasia. Mistletoe has been used for 100 years in Europe to treat breast cancer and leukemia.

Pharmaceutical companies routinely travel to
the jungles to seek native cures. They modify traditional herbal remedies to create prescription drugs. One such
example is digoxin that is derived from a traditional Irish tea and the fox glove plant. Many herbs, foods and
spices have estrogen activity as well as progesterone activity. In general, if a people group has been eating a
particular food for centuries and have relatively small amounts of estrogen linked diseases, the food is safe to
consume in reasonable quantities.